I am excited to share that this week we are swinging into full planning mode for the First-ever Latin@ Technology Conference to precede SXSW.

After trying to move the needle on this topic for several years, we have decided to gather the top Latin@s in technology in a pre-conference to precede SXSW. My first efforts at organizing a Latinos in Tech (LIT) event at SXSW took the form of an evening event at the Carver Museum during SXSW 2010. Inspired by the efforts of Blacks in Tech (BIT) and having participated as a speaker for BIT at the Carver, I thought it important to start a Latinos in Tech event. I thought it critical that we as Latinos have something similar to the BIT effort.

This time the idea is for us to bring together a strong cohort of Latinos in Tech for a stimulating pre-conference convening which will lead to greater Latin@ participation at SXSW and other tech conferences in years to come. We are in conversations with Blacks in Tech again this year to see how we can partner.

While we believe in the importance of the fluidity of borders, the focus of this convening is on US Latin@s. We see this as an opportunity to create a tipping point moment in Latin@ participation at events and conferences like SXSW where we are still massively underrepresented despite the growth in our numbers. Last year there were only two Latin@ panels at SXSW Interactive. This needs to change.

As a part of this pre-conference, we are putting together a list of the top Latinos in Tech. If there are people who you think we should include please let us know.

ANNOUNCING THE FIRST EVER LATINO TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE TO PRECEDE SXSW

This week the Kapor Center for Social Impact, along with Kety Esquivel, Principal of Esquivel McCarson Consulting and Ana Flores, Principal of Latina Bloggers Connect announced the start of planning for the first ever Latino Technology Conference to precede SXSW.

"We decided to hold this pre-SXSW Latino Technology Conference in 2014 to try and ensure greater involvement by the Latino community in SXSW," said Ana Flores. "Although we have made great progress, despite the growth in numbers of Latinos in technology, the participation of Latinos as attendees, speakers and panelist in important conferences like SXSW is minimal. We are hoping that this pre-conference will help to move that number in the right direction."

"I am passionate about ensuring that Latinos are represented in these venues," said Kety Esquivel. "Moreover, despite the fact that by 2050 Hispanics will be 1/3 of the U.S. population, the divide between the investments and commitments being made in digital to reach the Latino audience are significant. We need to challenge investors, organizations, media creators, agencies, conference organizers and startups to make this commitment. What better place to talk about this then at a pre-SXSW conference?"

"After attending last year, the Kapor Center decided to contribute to those efforts which would maximize the opportunity for Latinos to both benefit from and contribute to the SXSW experience," said Nicole Sanchez Managing Partner of the Kapor Center for Social Impact. "We believe a one day pre-conference for Latinos in tech will be an important catalyst and milestone towards achieving these goals."

The inaugural Latino Technology Conference will occur immediately before SXSW and will be a day long event. Proposals for panels will be accepted before the conference and event organizers are reaching out to corporate and other foundation sponsors to try and ensure that the event is accessible to the Latino community.

To participate as a sponsor contact Kety Esquivel at Kety.Esquivel at gmail.com.

ABOUT THE KAPOR CENTER FOR SOCIAL IMPACT
The Kapor Center for Social Impact relentlessly pursues creative strategies that will leverage information technology for positive social impact. We are particularly interested in social impact for communities that have historically been on the periphery of access to opportunity, participation and influence in the areas of education, politics, economics, and health. We focus our activities on creating and widening pathways that will leverage tech to improve economic opportunity, academic outcomes, political participation, and health care and wellness. We believe that when the community of tech leaders reflects the diversity of the United States, tech will play an integral role in closing gaps and disparities that exist in this country.

ABOUT LATINA BLOGGERS CONNECT
Latina Bloggers Connect is a boutique agency specialized in crafting brand alliances and campaigns that allow bloggers and brands to connect in meaningful and effective ways. Founded in 2010, the LBC network now counts with over 1,000 opt-in members. LBC works with Latina influencers in all areas, including parenting, lifestyle, fashion, food, travel, green, technology and more. Latina Bloggers Connect, the first agency of its kind, is a leader in the Hispanic social media space and was recently recognized as the Top Latin@ Social Network Leader at the LATISM 2011 and 2012 Awards.

ABOUT ESQUIVEL MCCARSON CONSULTING
Esquivel McCarson Consulting is a consulting firm providing leadership, diversity, sales, technology and social media solutions to organizations and individuals. Its services include executive and life coaching, public speaking, leadership and diversity training, social media strategy development and implementation as well as social media training. Its founders are Kety Esquivel, a former executive with Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, Fenton Communications and LATISM and Richard McCarson, a business and sales professional with Nestlé USA and formerly with Pepsi and Sara Lee. Ms.Esquivel and Mr. McCarson together bring over 35 years of experience in sales, marketing, management and communication.

Kety Esquivel

Welcome!

Kety Esquivel has over fifteen years of experience in the non‐profit, private and political sectors. She directed Latino outreach for the Clark Presidential Campaign. Her work has taken her to China and Ethiopia with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. She spent three years coaching executives on human capital and diversity in the US, Canada and Latin America. She worked as the New Media Manager for NCLR (the National Council of La Raza). Kety graduated from Cornell University where she served on the Board of Trustees. While at Cornell she organized students to defend issues as varied as financial aid and need-blind admissions to the environment. She is a published author and founder of CrossLeft.org. She is co-founder of the Institute of Progressive Christianity and the Sanctuary,http://promigrant.org. Kety has served on several boards, including that of the Backbone Campaign, the Puerto Rican Youth Development and Resource Center and the New Leaders Council. She has been a speaker at Netroots Nation, SXSW, Personal Democracy Forum, BlogHer, the Center for New Words, Gov 2.5 and Gov 2.0 Camp LA. She has worked with O'Reilly Media, Blogalicious, Women Action and the Media and Nonprofit 2.0 Unconference. She has been a convener for Web of Change and She's Geeky and is a past editor of BlogHer. Her commentary has been featured and quoted in stories for the Wall St. Journal Online, HITN, PBS, XM radio, Democracy Now, CNN, Televisa and Univision. She blogs here and on the Huffington Post.